Detachable binding device for a ski boot

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a device for detachably fastening a ski boot to a ski binding fixable on the ski, the ski boot comprising a hook element extending in its longitudinal direction. In manner known per se the hook element consists of a wire material which is bent several times and of which the cross rod is located at a distance from the front ski boot end, and where legs joining the cross rod are anchored by bent, free wire segments in the front end of the ski boot sole. In the invention, the free wire segments (6,7) of each leg (4,5) of the hook element (2) are additionally bent by an angle (alpha) toward the cross rod (3), whereby improved anchoring of the hook element (2) and improved force spreading between the hook element and the ski boot (1) is achieved. In further essence of the invention, the individual legs (4,5) are divided into at least three wire segments assuming directions deviating from the preceding and/or following wire segments.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns a device to detachably fasten a ski boot to a skibinding fixable to a ski.

It has long been known already from Norwegian Patent No. 138,832 toprovide the front ski boot end with a hook element to achieve detachablefastening to a ski binding. Furthermore, a cast attachment of a hookelement into a plastic sole is known from German Auslegeschrift No. 2622 966.

A ski binding of the above cited type illustratively is disclosed inGerman Offenlegungsschrift No. 30 02 874. In this known device, the hookelement, when seen in topview (FIG. 4 of this document), assumes theapproximate shape of a square ring, the free wire segments of each legbeing bent toward each other and made to align. Even though this knownsolution has been found useful in practice, there are signs neverthelessthat the stated shape of the hook element is not the most appropriatefor all conceivable link mechanisms. Also, the annular shape of the hookelement precludes further developments even where called for onpractical grounds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to so design andshape a device of the initially cited kind that shall allow furtherdevelopments without thereby abandoning the concept of fastening the skiboot to the ski binding. Moreover, diverse sptial arrangements shall bemade possible and there shall be adaptability to various material links.

Because the bent free wire segments of each leg are bent once moretoward the cross rod, the hook element of the subject invention enjoys ahook-like support inside the front of the ski boot as seen in thedirection of the load, whereby even adverse, unilateral stresses, whichare known from experience to be commonplace when the ski boot is used inmotion, can be better absorbed by the ski boot than in the solution ofthe state of the art.

Seen in the direction of the load, the change in direction of adjoiningwire segments also provides a hook-like rest for the hook element at thefore of the ski boot. Furthermore, the hook element is made stifferbecause its individual legs are braced.

The features of the subject invention achieve improved force spreadingbecause the hook element is supported over the entire space of the frontof the ski boot.

The features of the subject invention also achieve a hook elementgeometry matching the outer shape of the front of the ski boot. Thereby,the side surfaces of the ski boot are reinforced.

The features of the subject invention further allow intensive reactionto the load in that the wire segments in the longitudinal direction ofthe ski boot of the individual legs are divided into sub-segmentspointing in different directions.

The features of the subject invention also relate to assuring naturalrolling-off motion of the ski boot to correspond to the natural motionof the skier's foot. These features take into account the foot'sroll-off motion taking place over the area of the big toes.

The features of the subject invention achieving reinforcement at thefore of the ski boot take this concept of the invention further.

Further features, advantages and details of the invention shall now bedescribed more closely in relation to the drawings showing severalembodiments of the subject invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 through 3 show a first embodiment with inwardly doubly bent freewire segments of the individual legs of the hook element, FIG. 1 showingthe hook element in topview for the ON position in a ski boot, whileFIGS. 2 and 3 are a topview and an elevation view of the hook element,respectively.

FIGS. 4 through 6 illustrate a further design mode of the firstembodiment, having individual-leg wire segments additionally bent out ofthe plane of the hook element, similarly to FIGS. 1 through 3;

FIGS. 7 through 9 illustrate a third embodiment of the subject inventionwherein the legs of the hook element are shown angled several timescorresponding to the outer shape of the front of the ski boot and haveoutwardly bent free wire segments, similarly to FIGS. 1 through 3;

FIGS. 10 through 12 illustrate a fourth embodiment of the subjectinvention wherein the individual legs of the hook element per secomprise several bends but otherwise are similar by their outwardly freewire segments to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7 through 9;

FIGS. 13 through 15 show an arrangement of the free wire segmentsforming a kind of pivot axis that, referred to the hook elementlongitudinal axis, forms an acute angle with it, but otherwise issimilar to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7 through 9;

FIG. 16 is a partial section relating to the design of FIG. 13, whereinthe walking sole is reinforced up to that area receiving the hookelement relative to the wider area of the walking sole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As can be seen from the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 3, a hookelement denoted in its entirety by 2 is cast in known manner into thefront 1 of a ski boot. This front 1 of the ski boot also consists inmanner known per se of plastic. Again the manufacturing process is knownper se and is not an object of the present invention.

The hook element 2 comprises a cross rod 3 and two legs 4,5 angled toit. The free wire segments 6,7 of the individual legs 4,5 are bentaround toward each other and then additionally again at an acute anglealpha toward the cross rod 3. The magnitude of the angle alpha is up to80°, preferably 60°-75°. For the sake of clarity, the embodiment showsan angle alpha about 20°.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 4 through 6 the hook element 2' essentiallycorresponds to the first embodiment except that the free ends 6', 7' ofthe individual legs 4', 5' of the hook element 2' are bent out of itsplane by an angle beta. The magnitude of the angle beta is up to 45°,preferably 15°-30°.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 7 through 9, the hook element 2" is designedwith the individual legs 4", 5" being divided into three wire segments.The first wire segments 4"a, 5"a orthogonally join the cross-rod 3" andthe second adjoining wire segments 4"b, 5"b subtend an outward anglegamma. Again straight wire segments 4"c, 5"c join those wire segmentsand form an angle delta with them. The free wire segments 6", 7" of eachleg 4", 5" in this case form an outward right angle. The angles gammaand delta are about 45°.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 10 through 12, the hook element 2'" isprovided with several bends at its legs 4'", 5'". These bends are inopposite directions; this embodiment shows the bent wire segments 4'"a,4'"b, 4'"c, 4"d and 5'"a, 5'"b, 5'"c, 5'"d, the free ends 6'" and 7'"joining the last wire segments 4'"d and 5'"d respectively.

The embodiment of FIGS. 13 through 15 shows a hook element 2^(IV) whichis similar to the design of FIGS. 7 through 9. The corresponding wiresegments are denoted by 4^(IV) a, 4^(IV) b, 4^(IV) c and 5^(IV) a,5^(IV) b, 5^(IV) c and again the free wire segments 6^(IV) and 7^(IV)join the wire segments 4^(IV) c and 5^(IV) c are resp. The differencerelative to the embodiment of FIGS. 7 through 9 is that the leg 5^(IV)is extended compared to the leg 4^(IV) and in the concrete embodiment inthat the wire segment 5^(IV) c is longer than the wire segment 4^(IV) c.As a result the free wire segments 6^(IV) and 7^(IV) are aligned anddetermine an ideal pivot axis 8 of which the direction deviates from thenormal to the longitudinal axis of the hook element 2^(IV) and subtendsan acute angle with same. As a result, the roll-off motion isadvantageous because by experience the skier moves more about his bigtoes in the area of the ball of the foot than in that in the directionof his small toes.

This sequence of motion is further favored as shown by FIG. 16 in thatthe area of the walking sole 9 around the hook element 2^(IV) is made ofa stiffer material. This is taken into account as shown in FIG. 16 bythe stiffer area being denoted by a and the further area of the travelsole 9 being denoted by b.

The invention is not restricted to the embodiments shown. Furthervariations are conceivable that would not transcend the scope ofprotection. Illustratively the free ends of FIGS. 7 through 9 or 10through 12 or 13 through 15 might be bent, not outward, but inward.Again it is conceivable, both as regards the embodiment modes alreadyshown and the presently cited design, to additionally bend the free endsof the individual legs similarly to the embodiment of FIGS. 4 through 6out of the plane of the hook element. Again it is conceivable to carryout this bending not upwards but downwards, assuming of course there beenough space for that purpose and that it appear appropriate whateverthe reason. Lastly it is conceivable also for the embodiment of FIGS. 1through 3 and 4 through 6 the make the legs of different sized,similarly to the case for the embodiment of FIGS. 13 through 15.

There is no need to represent ski bindings suitable in the use of a skiboot with a hook element as shown above in the light of the most diverseski bindings that are applicable with similar ski boots. Again there isno need to show in closer detail the anchoring of the hook element intoa reinforcement part in the boot sole as illustratively described in theGerman Offenlegungsschrift No. 33 34 144. This document shows that thehook element of the invention also can be used with such a seating partand shall also be protected when used in that form.

We claim:
 1. A device for detachably fastening a ski boot to a skibinding, comprising:a hook element (2) extending in a longitudinaldirection of said ski boot and being rigidly connected to a travel sole(9) of said ski boot, said hook element including a plurality of bentportions, a cross rod fixed into a predetermined distance away from thefront end of said ski boot and extending transverse to said longitudinaldirection, and first and second legs (4, 5) extending in saidlongitudinal direction, each of said legs including at least one segment(6, 7) bent in the plane of said hook element by a first predeterminedangle (alpha) toward said cross rod.
 2. A device according to claim 1,wherein each of said first and second legs comprises at least twosegments extending in different directions.
 3. A device according toclaim 1, wherein each of said segments (6, 7) extend from said hookelement at a second predetermined angle (beta).
 4. A device according toclaim 1, wherein each of said first and second legs comprise first,second, and third segments, said first segments being orthogonal to saidcross rod, said second segments extending outward at a thirdpredetermined acute angle (gamma) and said third segments adjoining saidsecond segments at a fourth predetermined acute angle (delta) andextending parallel to said first segments.
 5. A device according toclaim 2, wherein each of said first and second legs comprises first,second, third and fourth adjoining angled segments each forming an acuteangle with each adjoining segment.
 6. A device according to claim 2,wherein one of said first and second legs is longer than the other ofsaid first and second legs, the ends of said first and second legscreating a pivot axis (8) subtending a fifth predetermined acute angle(epsilon) with respect to said longitudinal direction.
 7. A deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said portion of said travel sole connectedto said hook element is reinforced relative to other portions of saidtravel sole.
 8. A device according to claim 4, wherein the each of saidthird predetermined acute angle (gamma) and said fourth predeterminedacute angle (delta) are substantially 45°.